Time-Zone-Aware Feature Activation With Issue Deactivation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing software deployment systems face challenges in managing feature activation across different time zones, leading to inconsistent user experiences and increased risk of errors due to manual activation and inadequate monitoring, especially in global deployments.
Innovation Solution
A feature activation service that automatically activates and deactivates features based on local time zones, using a 'follow-the-sun' approach, with automatic health monitoring and deactivation upon detecting issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If features are activated globally at the same time for all customers, then deployment consistency is improved, but employee productivity deteriorates due to errors and unexpected behavior during work hours
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements time zone-specific feature activation by determining the local time zone of each customer's computing device and activating features at appropriate local times. This allows the same feature to be activated at different times for different geographic regions, preventing disruptions during local work hours while maintaining global deployment consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary checks of the local time zone before activating features. By checking the current local time and comparing it against configured activation time windows, the system proactively prevents feature activation during periods when employees are actively working, thereby avoiding errors and productivity loss before they occur.
2Ease of operation
If manual feature activation is used, then ease of operation is improved for individual deployments, but reliability deteriorates due to human error and inconsistency
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines the local time zone of each computing device and autonomously decides whether to activate features based on pre-configured time zone parameters and current local time. This self-service approach eliminates manual intervention entirely, ensuring consistent and reliable activation decisions based on objective time zone data rather than human judgment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the local time zone and current time, providing feedback to the feature activation logic. This real-time feedback mechanism ensures that features are activated only when local time conditions are appropriate, maintaining high reliability while adapting to changing temporal conditions across different regions.
3Productivity
If features are activated during peak work hours, then productivity is improved by immediate availability, but reliability deteriorates due to increased error risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic feature activation based on the current local time and configured time windows. Rather than using static activation schedules, the system continuously adapts activation decisions to current temporal conditions, allowing features to be activated during appropriate local hours while avoiding peak work periods, thus balancing availability with stability.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for automatic application feature activation and deactivation across time zones. One example method includes executing a computer application in response to a request. The computer application includes first code for a feature that must be activated before the first code is executed. An activation status query for the feature that includes a local time of the request is transmitted to a second computing device. The second computing device determines an activation status for the feature based on whether the local time of the request is equal to or after a feature activation time for the feature. The activation status for the feature is received from the second computing device. The first code for the feature is executed in response to determining that the activation status for the feature indicates that the feature is active for the context of the request.